Rawalpindi: Police Officer Martyred as Punjab Pushes Flood Control and Signal-Free Drive

Rawalpindi — Punjab's garrison city and one of Pakistan's major urban centers — saw a week of sharp contrasts: a police officer's martyrdom in a field operation against a violent fugitive, civic action to address catastrophic monsoon flooding along Nullah Leh, and the inauguration of a landmark infrastructure project that has reshaped the city's most congested corridor.

Sub-Inspector Adnan Ghayoor Killed in Line of Duty

A tragedy struck Rawalpindi's Crime Control Department when Sub-Inspector Adnan Ghayoor was shot and killed during an operation to arrest a dangerous proclaimed offender identified as Umar alias Cheena, within the jurisdiction of Chaklala Police Station. The offender opened direct fire, striking Ghayoor in the head and killing him on the spot. Inspector General of Punjab Police Abdul Kareem paid tribute to the fallen officer, calling his sacrifice an example of the courage Punjab Police personnel display in protecting the nation and maintaining law and order. The IG assured the bereaved family that their welfare remains a top priority for the force and that every possible assistance would be provided to them. A funeral prayer was held at Police Lines Headquarters Rawalpindi, attended by senior officials including RPO Rawalpindi Babar Sarfraz Alpa, CPO Rawalpindi Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera, and a large number of police officers, personnel, and civilians. The martyrdom of Sub-Inspector Ghayoor is the latest in a sequence of casualties among Punjab Police officers engaged in active field operations against violent and fugitive criminals across the province. [2]

WASA Prepares Four-Pronged Plan After Nullah Leh Devastation

Following the September 1 monsoon that brought over 200 millimetres of rain to Rawalpindi and Islamabad — triggering what officials described as the fifth and most dangerous flood spell of the season — the Water and Sanitation Agency has prepared a formal reference for the Punjab government outlining four options to prevent future devastation from Nullah Leh. The flooding resulted in one death and millions of rupees in damage to vehicles and property in the twin cities. The WASA reference recommends improvements to catchment areas of Nullah Leh in both cities, and proposes constructing a dam near F-9 Park as one of four possible long-term interventions. Residents of areas such as Dhoke Chirag Din were still found dumping garbage along Nullah Leh's embankments despite Section 144 orders banning the practice — a sign that civic compliance remains a persistent challenge. The reference argues that without coordinated action from both provincial and federal governments, the twin cities will remain exposed to similar catastrophic flooding each monsoon season. WASA is urging long-term infrastructure investment to manage the seasonal surge that the nullah channels through a densely populated urban corridor. [3]

🗳️ CM Maryam Nawaz Inaugurates Marka-e-Haq Square in Signal-Free Push

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated Marka-e-Haq Square in Rawalpindi in May, marking a major milestone in the city's Signal-Free Rawalpindi campaign. The project set a record by completing five underpasses, two overhead bridges, and a pedestrian bridge within 179 days. The upgraded stretch from Rawalpindi Kutchery Chowk to the Rekhi Din area has been named Marka-e-Haq Square in honor of the historic engagement associated with the area. The Chief Minister personally inspected the signal-free corridor, reviewing the overhead bridge and road network from Annexy Chowk to GPO Chowk. Provincial Minister for Communications and Works Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharth provided a full briefing, noting that over 200,000 vehicles are expected to pass daily through what had been the city's most congested stretch. The project also features Rawalpindi's first state-of-the-art pedestrian bridge, located at Marka-e-Haq Square itself. Further phases extending from Rawat to the Motorway are part of the continuing Signal-Free Rawalpindi plan, which aims to modernize traffic flow and reduce gridlock across the garrison city for commuters and commercial traffic alike. [5]

Sources: [2] punjabpolice.gov.pk · [3] tribune.com.pk · [5] RADIO PAKISTAN